Prior to each Mizzou hoops game this season, we will get Tiger fans set with The Starting Five. In this feature, we'll give you the anticipated starting lineups for each team, break down keys to a Missouri win and offer up a prediction.
Here is the breakdown of tonight's game against Georgia.
OFF THE BENCH: Juwan Parker has started five games and will play more minutes than Wildridge. He averages 7.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Tyree Crump, Nicholas Claxton, Jordan Harris and Mike Edwards all play at least 12 minutes a game and average between three and six points. Outside of Maten, Mark Fox doesn't have any stars, but he'll play ten guys regular minutes.
OFF THE BENCH: Jontay Porter is probably Missouri's most complete player. He averages 8.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, two assists and 2.3 blocked shots per game and has been on a hot streak of late. Cullen VanLeer, Terrence Phillips and Reed Nikko will see some time as well.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Contain Maten....legally. Yante Maten is the pre-season SEC player of the year and by far the best big man the Tigers have faced this season. Jeremiah Tilmon and Jontay Porter are going to have their hands full. The way things have been going lately, Maten could foul them both out pretty quickly. If Cuonzo Martin is ever going to employ a zone, this might be the time.
2. Get to the line. First of all, this might get Maten in some foul trouble and if that happens the Bulldogs are in deep trouble. Georgia has shot 112 more free throws than its opponents through 15 games. They play very good defense (65 ppg) and don't foul a lot. Missouri needs to attack and get to the line.
3. Take good threes. Missouri is going to take a lot of three-pointers. It's their identity. When they're coming off ball reversal or kickouts from Jontay Porter, the Tigers can be very dangerous. But UGA is allowing opponents to shoot just 30.8% from beyond the arc this year. Mizzou can't go firing at will. Work the ball and take good shots from deep.
TIP TIME INFORMATION
TIPOFF: 8:00 p.m. Central
TELEVISION: ESPN2/WatchESPN
RADIO: The game will be broadcast on the Tiger Radio Network. For a list of affiliates, click here.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Georgia is one of the SEC teams that is performing a little better than expected. The Bulldogs are off to a 2-1 league start with a 19-point beating of Alabama and a close loss at Kentucky. The Bulldogs have the best player in this game in Maten, but the Tigers probably have the next three or four. This is the type of game Missouri's got to win at home. You can stomach a loss to Florida, which should be a certain NCAA Tournament team. Start dropping home games like this and you're going to move to the wrong side of the NCAA Tournament bubble quickly.
PREDICTION: Missouri 73, Georgia 70
PLAYER OF THE GAME: It's impossible to go against Jordan Barnett these days. He's averaging 23.5 points in the first two league games. We'll bank on him going for 20 again.
